Arizona seeks to protect small businesses from company filing predatory lawsuits

PHOENIX (Legal Newsline) — Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich announced Nov. 9 that Advocates for Individuals with Disabilities (AID) will be banned from filing allegedly frivolous lawsuits against businesses in the state.

Brnovich had alleged AID filed more 1,700 frivolous lawsuits in 2016. The lawsuits, which were entirely copy-and-paste, csai businesses’ parking lots failed to comply with disability laws. According to Brnovich, the issues were easy to fix, yet AID demanded thousands of dollars in damages and attorneys’ fees.

A settlement with AID comes after state judge David M. Talamante dismissed most of the lawsuits. As per the settlement agreement, AID will drop their appeal of the order dismissing the cases, be banned from filing any new Americans with Disabilities Act cases, and pay $25,000 in penalties.

“Today’s settlement is a victory for Arizona consumers and small businesses,” Brnovich said in a statement. “Arizona is not going to tolerate serial litigants who try to shake down small hardworking businesses by exploiting the disability community.”